The Use of Steatite Powder Waste as an Aggregate for the Manufacture of Earth Blocks—An Evaluation of Its Impact on Physical, Mechanical and Thermal Conductivity Properties

Earthen construction is a sustainable alternative to conventional building materials due to its low environmental impact; however, both its mechanical strength and durability differ from conventional building materials. Different physical and chemical stabilization techniques are used to improve the mechanical properties of the incorporated elements, although these increase the carbon footprint. The present research focuses on studying mineral stabilization, specifically the incorporation of powdered steatite residues (PSRs) in matrices for the manufacture of earth blocks (EBs) to improve their physical, mechanical and thermal properties. Through an experimental study to analyze the EB, it is established that the use of this mineral as an aggregate in the different matrices studied registered the following extreme values: a reduction in porosity by 27.43%, an increase in bulk density by 3.73%, a 58.91% reduction in dimensional variation, an increase in compressive strength of 24.7% and in flexural strength of 41.2%, a 36.33% reduction in erosion, and a maximum extreme value in thermal conductivity equal to 1.48 W/(m·k). These results allow us to establish that the use of PSRs as a mineral stabilizer in the manufacture of EBs contributes to sustainability criteria and provides physical, mechanical and thermal improvements.